Segment cutter

ABSTRACT

A segment cutter is formed suitable for cutting segments from a paper tape, such as encephalogram or electrocardiogram charts, which is of a compact and low-profile design. The segment cutter comprises a base member having disposed thereon one or more raised planar surfaces, a platen having an opening or openings corresponding to said planar surface and adapted to receive a length of material from which a portion is to be cut. The platen overlays the raised planar surface retaining the desired portion of the material to be cut and forming a track. A tool having a hard rotating spherical ball adapted to ride in the track is moved around the track the ball exerting pressure against the upper edge of the raised planar surface to effect cutting of the desired portion.

United States Patent 1 Littmann 1 SEGMENT CUTTER David Littmann, NeedhamTownship, Norfolk County, Mass.

[75] lnventor:

[73] Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, St. Paul,Minn.

[22] Filed: Sept. 15, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 289,439

[52] U.S. Cl 30/124, 30/292, 83/454 [51] Int. Cl B26d 7/02 [58] Field ofSearch..... 30/124, 286, 289, 290, 292;

[ Jan. 29, 1974 Primary Examiner0thcll M. Simpson Assistant Examiner-J.C. Peters Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Kinney, Alexander, Sell, Steldt &Delahunt 5 7 ABSTRACT A segment cutter is formed suitable for cuttingsegments from a paper tape, such as encephalogram or electrocardiogramcharts, which is of a compact and low-profile design. The segment cuttercomprises a base member. having disposed thereon one or more raisedplanar surfaces, a platen having an opening or openings corresponding tosaid planar surface and adapted to receive a length of material fromwhich a portion is to be cut. The platen overlays the raised planarsurface retaining the desired portion of the material to be cut andforming a track. A tool having a hard rotating spherical ball adapted toride in the track is moved around the track the ball exerting pressureagainst the upper edge of the raised planar surface to effect cutting ofthe desired portion.

3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures In one aspect, this invention relates to acutter for cutting segments from paper. In yet another aspect, thisinvention relates to the medical field where it is desired to cutuniform segments from paper, charts, or records.

In the medical field it is generally'desirable to cut and retain certainportions of paper, charts, or records such as those normally found inelectrocardiogram and encephalogram recordings. Generally speaking, theaverage record or chart involves a strip or chart of paper several feetin length; however, only certain small representative segments of thechart are normally saved for permanent records. The particular segmentschosen for permanent records are removed from the entire strip andmounted on a backing sheet which provides a permanent record for theshort length of chart segment cut from the longer paper chart. Thebacking sheet used for mounting thecut segments is often of a standardformat to facilitate accurate record keeping and storage and therfore itis desirable to provide a segment cutter which cuts a uniformly sizedspecimen.

Generally the desired segments have been cut from the paper web by theuse of scissors or the like. In some cases, such as large clinics orhospitals a lever-type diecutting machine has been employed. The use ofscissors is time consuming and results in segments of varying size andshape while the use of the lever-type die cutting machine results inuniform size segments which are easily cut. However, the die cuttingmachines are quite large, expensive and adapted for cutting numeroussegments simultaneously making them undesirable for small offices wherespace is at a premium and the number of samples cut does not justify anexpensive cutter. The prior art also discloses the use of a die-cuttingmember and roller which. effects a perforated cut in the chart. Theperforated cut results in a segment which is still attached to the testchart and which has to be removed from the test sample by additionalmeans in order to provide a specimensuitable for mounting.

The segment cutter of this invention overcomes the shortcomings of theprior art die cutters and it provides a compact, lightweight segmentcutter which can be easily used in a' small area and conveniently storedwhen not in use. The cutter ofthis invention cuts uniformly shapedsegments from the record chart suitable for mounting on the permanentrecord sheets presently in use. The cutting member is removable so thatit may be replaced when worn, and the segment cutter can be formed withdifferent-sized members allowing smaller segments to be cut from thechart or paper when so desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly, the segment cutter of this inventioncomprises a' base member having disposed thereon at least one raisedplanar cutting surface, a platen having an opening corresponding to saidplanar surface which is adapted to receive a length of the material fromwhich a segment is to be cut. The platen overlays the raised planarsurface retaining the desired portion of the material and forming atrack in which a hard, rotating spherical ball is adapted to ride andmove around said track by means of a hand tool. The hard spherical ballexerts pressure against the outer edge of the raised planar surface tocut the desired portion of said material.

The planar surface and its corresponding track define the shape and sizeof the segment to be cut.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A better understanding of theinvention can be had by referring to the accompanying drawing in whichlike reference numbers referto like parts in the several views, and inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of this invention havingone raised planar cutting surface;

FIG. 2 is a side view in partial section taken along the line 22 of FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is an end view in section taken along the line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of a second embodiment of this invention; and

FIG. 5 is an end view of the segment cutter of FIG. 4 showing a segmentcutter having raised planar cutting surfaces on both sides.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring initially to FIGS. 13 a segment cutter 10 is shown comprising a base member 11 havingattached thereto a raised planar surface 12 having a peripheral cuttingedge 21. A sheet of paper 13 from which a segment is to be cut is heldin place by platen 14 which can be raised as shown in FIG. 3 by phantomlines 16. The paper 13 is placed on top of planar surface 12 and platenl4 closed over the paper thereby holding the paper securely in place Theplaten 14 which overlays the raised planar surface 12 has an openingcorresponding in shape and configuration to the raised planar surfacethereby forming a track 17 about the periphery of the raised planarsurface. A tool 18 having a hard spherical ball 19 is furnished, theball 19 being of the proper size so that when it is pressed firmly intotrack 17 pressure is exerted against the cutting edge 21 of raisedplanar surface 12.

Hard spherical ball 19 is held in the tool 18 in such a manner that itis easily rotated when the tool is moved along .the track 17. Oneconfiguration suitable for holding the ball in a rotatable manner isshown in FIG. 3, where ball 19 is held in place by sleeve 22 and whentool 18 is pushed down into track 17 ball 19 rides against a porous,oil-impregnated bearing 23 providing a low-friction interface betweenthe ball and the bearing allowing easy rotation of the ball as it movesalong the track.

The ball 19 when riding in track 17 forms a cutting angle 20 with uppercutting edge 21 of raised planar surface 12. This cutting angle 20 isdefined by a line drawn from the point of contact between the ball 19and cutting edge 21 through the center of the ball and the vertical axisof the segment cutter 10. The cutting angle 20 will generally be in therange of 25 to 55 degrees preferably in the range of 35 to 50 degrees.It has been foundangles above 55 degrees or below 25 degrees result insegment cutters which doubt function as well as the preferredembodiments and require substantially more force in order to make aclean cut.

The ball can be formed of numerous metals and alloys which are hard andcan be finished to form a smooth, spherical shape. A preferred ball isthe hardened steel bearing material available as ball bearings from manycompanies. The ball bearings come in several sizes and are sufficientlyhard to insure a long life.

i The planar surface 12 is formed of a hard material generally having ahardness greater than 40 Rockwell C preferably harder than 45 RockwellC, e.g. tempered carbon steel, martensitic stainless steel or heattreated alloy steel and is of a softer material than the ball. The flatplanar surface is shown with a smooth upper edge and rounded corners,the rounded corners helping to keep an even pressure between the balland edge during use as well as contributing to increased life of thecutting edge. It is possible, however, to form a cutting surface withsquare corners or to form a notched upper edge which would form aperforated cut around the specimen for later detachment of the specimen.

The segment cutter is supported on a base surface 23 which may be atable top, desk top or the like by legs 24 which are normally made of acushioning material such as rubber or firm foam material which providesa soft support for the segment cutter and also provides a slip resistantsurface between the supporting surface 23 and the segment cutter 10.

When the cutting edge 21 has become worn from repeated use, the flatplanar surface 12 can be disengaged by removing the fastening means 26and a new flat planar surface installed. The replaceability of theplanar surface 12 and its associated cutting edge insures that propercutting action can be maintained over extended periods of time withoutthe need for replacing the entire segment cutter.

A second embodiment of the segment cutter of this invention is shown inFIGS. 4 and wherein both sides of the segment cutter are adapted forcutting segments of varying sizes. As shown in FIG. 4 one side of thesegment cutter of this embodiment contains two raised planar surfaces27, 28 which have corresponding openings 29, 30 in the platen 32.

FIG. 5 shows the embodiment of FIG. 4 in an open configuration platen l4and planar surface 12 having a configuration similar to those shown inFIG. I and platen 32 having the configuration shown in FIG. 4. Thesegment cutter of this embodiment allows different size segment patternsto be cut so that the segment size which best suits the need foraccurate record keeping can be cut from any of the various strips orcharts common in the medical field. The operation and configuration ofthis embodiment are similar to that of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

Various modifications and alterations of this invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scopeand spirit of this invention, and it should be understood that thisinvention is not to be limited to the illustrative embodiments set forthherein.

What is claimed is:

l. A segment cutter comprising a base member having disposed thereon atleast one raised planar surface having a peripheral cutting edge, aplaten having an opening corresponding in shape to said planar surfaceand adapted to receive a length of material from which a segment is tobe cut, said platen overlaying said planar surface and retaining thedesired portion of the material, said platen and at least a portion ofsaid peripheral cutting edge of said planar surface forming a track inwhich a tool having a hard, rotating, spherical ball is adapted to ridefor exerting pressure against the outer edge of said raised planarsurface to effect cutting of a segment from said length of material.

2. A segment cutter of claim 1 where said raised planar surface is aremovable, raised planar surface.

3. A segment cutter of claim 1 where said platen is pivotably hinged tosaid base member.

Disclaimer 3,787,968.D0w2'd Littmann, Needham Township, Norfolk County,Mass. SEGMENT CUTTER. Patent dated Jan. 29, 1974. Disclaimer filed Mar.23, 1976, by the assignee, Minnesota; Mining and Manufacturing Oompcmy.Hereby enters this disclaimer to claims 1 through 3 of Said patent.

[Oyficial Gazette May 25, 1.976.]

1. A segment cutter comprising a base member having disposed thereon atleast one raised planar surface having a peripheral cutting edge, aplaten having an opening corresponding in shape to said planar surfaceand adapted to receive a length of material from which a segment is tobe cut, said platen overlaying said planar surface and retaining thedesired portion of the material, said platen and at least a portion ofsaid peripheral cutting edge of said planar surface forming a track inwhich a tool having a hard, rotating, spherical ball is adapted to ridefor exerting pressure against the outer edge of said raised planarsurface to effect cutting of a segment from said length of material. 2.A segment cutter of claim 1 where said raised planar surface is aremovable raised planar surface.
 3. A segment cutter of claim 1 wheresaid platen is pivotably hinged to said base member.